Last year, the Yaris replaced the Echo inThe sedan rides on a longer wheelbase (100.4 inches vs. 96.9 in) than the Liftback model, and can be viable transportation for small families while the hatchback is ideal as a commuter that can also handle longer trips when the need arises.
Standard under the hood of both vehicles is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 106 horsepower — adequate for a small, light car of this type. Buyers can choose either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. All models come standard with 14-inch wheels and air conditioning; major safety features such as anti-lock brakes and side-impact airbags may be ordered optionally.
The 2008 Yaris Liftback Sport model is a new addition to the lineup. The Yaris Liftback Sport gets body-color bumpers and side rocker panels. In addition it adds sport seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter knob, 15-inch wheels, a rear defroster, a rear wiper, and an audio system with MP3 capability and an auxiliary jack.
For 2008 all Yarises get standard tire-pressure monitors, but are otherwise unchanged.
- Styling
- It's gimmicky but relatively clean.
- Performance
- Fuel economy is great; acceleration, not so much.
- Comfort and Quality
- The back seats can really be rough.
- Safety
- Three-star performance in front crashes is nothing remarkable.
- Features
- It's no luxury car, and the base Yaris gets roll-up windows.
